PLAYING YOUR GAME BABY

"You mean to tell me that out of all the people in this building not one of us can find this little boy!" Rachel said stopping for a moment in one of the halls. She and her assistant had looked all over the place for her son. Rachel was already in panic mode and ready to kill Frank when she would see him, first she had to find her son and then deal with him.

Fletcher and his teacher were leaving one of the rooms where they were studying. They were in the middle of a conversation when Fletcher seen his brother sitting on the floor crying.

"Oh no Riley!" he yelled loudly and ran to him. Riley looked up and was delighted to see his brother. "It's okay man I'm here" Fletcher held him close and Riley put his head down on Fletcher's should tears still streaming.

"How did he get here?" his teacher asked

"That's what I wanna know, I better get him back" Fletcher told his teacher and then they made their way back to the dressing room

Frank and the others were still looking for Riley until he spotted Fletcher.

"Omg Fletcher!" he said unable to say more as he went and hugged his sons then he took Riley. "Riley don't you ever scare daddy like that again! Where did you find him?"

"Well our lessons were done so we stopped for the day. We were walking the halls when he spotted him" Fletcher told his father

"Aww man thank you God" Frank said just as Rachel came in flustered and full of tears when she seen her son. She grabbed Riley out of Frank's arms and squeezed him tight as she could.

"My poor baby you don't know how glad I am to see you safe and sound. I was worried sick about you!" she was kissing him all over his face just happy to see him. Rachel was fixing to lose it right before they told her over the walkie talkie that Riley had been found. "And Fletcher I am so thankful for you!" she kissed him too all over the face still holding onto her other boy.

"That's okay mom, you can stop with the kisses"

"I'm just relieved. Where was he?"

"Sitting down in the middle of the hall crying" Fletcher told her

"My poor baby, you were scared weren't you" She hugged Riley more tighter and then she focused her attention on Frank. "Frank how could you let this happen?" she said angrily

"I'm sorry I just turned my back for a split second and he was gone"

"How many times have I told you that we have to keep a closer eye on him now that he is walking. You know he likes to go off on his own"

"I know baby it's my fault I promise this won't ever happen again"

"Should Riley and I leave you two alone?" Fletcher said

"No baby that's ok, I have to get ready for our dinner" she said still mean mugging Frank who was very afraid right now. "You and I will talk about this later, I'm going take a shower. Fletcher please watch your brother, I don't even want to let you go" she handed Riley off to Fletcher

"So now I am not allowed to watch my own son?"

"Nope I don't know what to say about this whole thing" Rachel said leaving the room to go shower, but he followed right behind her

Once they got in the bathroom they talked

"Honey I said I was sorry"

"How did this happen Frank?" she said starting to get undressed

"We were sitting on the couch, I was trying to get him to say dada" he told his wife, Rachel just rolled her eyes. "Then my phone rang and I answered it. I got up to go get some papers for Rochelle, who was calling and that was it. I got off the phone and he was gone."

"How long were you on the phone for?"

"I don't know about 10 minutes"

"And you never checked on him?"

"He was right behind me sitting on the couch, well he was supposed to be"

"Do you really expect a one year old to just sit around and not do anything"

"The only reason he got out Rachel was because you or one of your entourage left the door open"

"So it's my fault that our son ran away"

"I didn't mean it like that"

"That's what your implying though"

"Rachel…" Frank went on to say

"Look I want to take my shower now, please go"

"No were not finished talking"

"Frank I don't want to talk to you anymore! I am pissed off enough as it is, your lucky I don't divorce you right now"

"Rachel I'm sorry"

"I know you are, but I am still mad" Frank opened the door and walk out, he turned around to say one more thing but she slammed the door in his face.

"She's real mad at you isn't she" Fletcher asked it wasn't the first time either. Frank has seem to do a lot over the past few years that they have been together to aggravate Rachel.

"Yeah she is" Frank said sitting down with his sons "How come you always like to get daddy in trouble?" he asked his youngest son.

Later the family is fixing to leave the restaurant, as usual Rachel draws a crowd so they have to sneak out the back door. In the car Frank is driving back while the kids watch a video tape in the back seat. Rachel is staring out the window and Frank wants to talk to her.

"Your still not talking to me?"

"Nope" she said not even looking at him. He reaches for her hand to hold but she pulls it away

"Rachel come on I'm sorry" he says and she still doesn't speak

Rachel was on stage singing and everyone was enjoying themselves jumping around and singing along with the songs. The director that was filming the concert was pulling his hair out because no one was doing the things he told them to do. And the men in Rachel's life were off to the side of the stage watching. During one of Rachel's slow tempo songs she looked over right before she started and seen Riley sleeping on Frank's shoulder. He looked so cute with his mouth open and the big headphones were too big for his little head. Fletcher was talking with a stage hand, and Frank for some reason was just oozing sexiness to her. She didn't know why she was feeling this way since they were still not speaking but she did. Of course she would forgive Frank soon but she still was mad at him. Right now though she wanted to take his lips in and kiss the hell out of him.

Later after the show and back at the hotel they talked about the incident and then made up. Frank was holding Rachel in his arms listening to her breathe while she slept. Rachel didn't have much strength left after the show and barely enough for the make up sex, So she went right asleep. Frank better had get to sleep soon too for that early flight in the morning. Bu his eyes wouldn't let him doze off, his body was for sure tired but he wanted to watch her sleep. Sometimes he would think about the what ifs. What if Bill had never came to him about protecting her. They would have never met, never had their little family, and probably would never have a chance at real love. Yeah what they had was real love, they were soul mates, life would have not been as great as it is now. Then he would think about losing it all. What if he and Rachel ever came to a decision to divorce. How would he move on in life without her, with out the kids, having to start all over again. And even worse watch her fall in love with someone else! Frank ended up falling asleep with that on his mind.

Frank hated situations like this, the kind that you find yourself in a rough spot and couldn't get out. That is what's going on today. Today was Riley's 5th birthday and Rachel was throwing a party at her house for their little boy. Frank has been out of the country for a year due to his job with the Vatican, he was the head of the Pope's security. It was going to be awkward because this was the first time he was meeting Rachel's new fiancé, and the one who would help raise his kids.

When he arrived to the big house there were already lines of cars parked outside. He got out and a valet took his keys and went park it for him. He walked up to the door steps and rung the bell, Marlene Rachel's helper opened up and let him in.

"Hi Frank it's so nice to see you again" she said

"Nice to see you too Marlene" he said giving her a hug "I assume everyone is in the back"

"Yes everyone is there. It's really good to see you Frank, your presence is missed around here"

"I miss you guys too" Frank left and went off to the back yard. He still knew his place around the house nothing was really different. He and Rachel had divorce just two years ago and it still felt like home. The few things that were different was their family picture no longer hanging up above the fire place, Rachel had redid the living room (which he seen as he passed by), and she put in new floors (a project he and Rachel had started right before they separated). Frank finally reached the doors to the outside and stepped into the party. Kids were everywhere running around jumping in the fun jump, swimming, eating. Frank didn't know how he was going to find his kids. Then a little girl approached him and he knew this one, it was his three year old daughter. The last child he and Rachel had, the one they made that didn't save their marriage.

"Hi daddy" his little princess said

"Hi sweet heart I missed you!" he kissed his little girl and hugged her tight

"I missed you too daddy." she was rubbing her eyes

"What's wrong honey, why are you rubbing your eyes?"

"I'm sleepy"

"You wanna go and take a nap?"

"Yeah" she said. That's when Rachel spotted him, a pang in her heart that moment, she still felt butterflies each and every time she seen him. Why couldn't she feel this way when she was still married to him? But that was over now and they both had moved on. She watched him take their daughter back into the house and her eyes lingered at the door for a few seconds before her attention was needed else where.

"When are you coming back home?" she asked her father as he put her down in her bed

"I'm back for a little while honey"

"But I want you to stay" she yawned

"I know baby but daddy has to work too" he tucked her in "Okay baby you get some sleep. Daddy will be right here waiting for you when you wake up"

"Ok daddy" she said already falling asleep. Frank waited a little while until she was fully under and then he left.

Back outside Fletcher was watching the kids with the lifeguard swim in the pool. Fletcher was now an expert swimmer and going to the marines after he would graduate. Rachel came over to give him the news that his father had arrived.

"Hey ma what's up?"

"Your father made it!"

"Frank's here?" Fletcher said excited

"Yeah"

"I thought you said he might not be able to make it?"

"Well that's what he told me but I guess he found a way"

"So where is he?" Fletcher looked around and then he spotted his father just walking out of the house and went to meet him

"Hey Frank!" he said

"Fletcher!" Frank hugged him tight too, he missed his kids dearly

"How have you been?"

"I'm well and what about you? Any girlfriends yet?" Frank said joking with him

"I've got a few, but don't tell mom" he smiled

"And school how are we doing?"

"I'm doing great, I might be the valedictorian I don't know yet but I hope I'll be!"

"And make sure you send me an invitation too, but send it to Pop's house he will let me know"

"I will don't worry. He came a few weeks ago to visit"

"He did"

"Yeah he spent the weekend with us, he even met Grant"

"Who's Grant?"

"Mom's fiancé"

"Oh that's his name? Do you guys like him?"

"He's ok, he is no you but he makes her happy"

"And what about you guys? Does he make you three happy?"

"He tries" just then Rachel comes over with Riley and her new love Grant

"Look who is here Riley" Rachel said and Frank reached for his son

"Daddy!" Riley jumped into his arms and hugged his father "I'm glad you came to my birthday"

"I wouldn't miss it for the world" he told him giving him a kiss on the cheek

"We didn't think you would show"

"I couldn't miss this. Look I have a present for you but you can't open it until after you have some cake ok"

"Thanks daddy you're the best" Riley said giving him one more hug and then leaving once Frank let him down.

"You must be Grant" Frank said reaching out his hand and Grant did the same

"Yes, it's great to finally meet you. I've heard so much about you" Grant said

"I'm sure you have" Frank told him looking at Rachel who was looking everywhere but at him

"Can we get you anything Frank?" Grant asked him

"Yeah just a soda" Frank didn't need anything else in his system. After he and Rachel divorced he almost developed a drinking habit, something he never wants to do again.

"I'll go and get you one" Fletcher said leaving

"I wish we could have met sooner but from what I understand your out of the country now"

"Yes I am"

"How is it guarding God's main man here on earth?"

"Boring sometimes but I keep myself entertained" Rachel still hadn't said much yet, she really didn't know what to say. She was relieved when someone called her over to them.

"I'll let you two get to know each other" she said

"Alright honey" Grant told her before he stole a kiss, to Frank that was a stake in the heart. He never got over Rachel and by the way she was acting he wondered if she ever got over him too.